Tuesday Reading: Luke 22:24-28
Key Verse: Luke 22:27
27 For which is the greater; he who reclines, or he who serves? Is it not he who reclines? But I am among you as He who serves.
Devotion:
Isn’t it amazing how so many conversations turn into rallies about who is better than whom? No matter what sort of thing we are talking about or going over there is always an element of superiority somewhere close by that we latch on to and we try to lift ourselves higher than others. Jesus and the disciples were in the upper room and Jesus had said that someone there with them was going to betray Him and that then turned into a bit of a discussion about who was the better rather than who was the worst!
Jesus’ response to this was to remind them of their position as followers of Christ and not as their positions in social circles. Far too many times we hang on to our social positions rather than remembering our position as God’s servants. I’m sure we have all imagined ourselves in some sort of position of authority or royalty at some stage in the past – whether it be playing as the prince or the princess when we were young or imagining that we are in fact the rightful heir to some important position. But life is not about what position you can attain here on earth but what position you are willing to accept with God.
God is the one who has created everything and allowed us to live the way that we have. We are the ones who have chosen to live under kings and queens and under human authority so that we can have social order. God’s request to us is not that we submit to human authority but that we submit to His authority. Part of that is the willingness to live within the social structure provided and to be an example that others may see as one willing to live for Christ. Jesus made sure that everyone knew that He was living for God the Father even though He is God the Son. Let us take a leaf from His book and live our lives proclaiming God as our Father too. Let us allow others to see that we willingly act as His servants to show our love for Him.
Points to Ponder:
What social position would you like to have?
Would you rather have that position or everlasting life with God?
